Realised I hate Disney.

I'm babysitting at the moment. This consists of watching children but also having to watch the Disney Channel. I have nothing against Disney's animated stuff as it is really good! But these programmes just promote so many awful things. When I have children I think I may ban this channel. I don't want them to turn out like the spoiled brat protagonists that are on EVERY show. I absolutely hate the whole idea of it. i've nothing against American's or their accents but the characters in these shows are just so stereotypical it's unbelievable. It makes me resent everything. AGH. It's poison. It portrays young girls as naive, stupid, materialistic, stupid, needy, bitchy, oh and did I mention stupid? I mean, are we living in the 19th century when women, like children were pretty much seen and not heard. When women were thought to know very little etcetera, etcetera. It's all about being 'perfect'. The girls make-up is always pristine and sometimes a little overdone, the hair is always long and flowing and they are always thin! This is not perfection, this is not what children should be told they have to look like and aspire to be. I'd hate for my child to grow up looking like one of those plastic dolls. Literally none of the storylines in it are at any way similar to my life. I don't know if that is because I am not American but I think this is in no way similar to life in any way.


I'm not normally a raging feminist but this just makes me want to burn my bra!!

Just stumbled upon the most beautiful portrait ever...

Just wanted to share with you and for keeps sakes. 

Why I love Holland...

Holland is so good that even blogspot has a background of an obvious Dutch landscape! Similar to this:

I love that when I am in Holland this is literally what you see when you look out the car window. You see hundreds of beautiful windmills and rolling fields. It's sad that most of Holland is below sea level meaning it will probably flood first if the world starts to flood because of global warming. So, Holland is obsessed with Dikes and rightly so. These Dikes will help to sustain the beautiful land that is Holland.

Another thing I love about Holland is the architechure and the buildings. You of course get the most famous town houses that are in Amsterdam and other main cities:

These houses are absolutely beautiful and are often along the rivers like this. Amsterdam has so many rivers. It always looks so beautiful. I love how every house is individual and has it's own quirky style but in the same way it is so typical. I'm an arty person and this just begs to be painted or drawn. It's so beautiful.

As well as this they also have very typical Dutch cottages. They're adorable and so quaint. I'd love to live in one.

They often use the water to travel in some more rural places. Agh so cute!

Another reason I love Holland and many other European countries is the bikes! They ride everywhere. They have bike lanes on every road which we have so little of in the UK. This saddens me. 

The bikes are all so gorgeous. You can never find one as pretty in the UK for a good price. They all seem so expensive but when you go over there you can get one of these beauties for quite cheap. I really want a Dutch style bicycle. Here is the one I want:

http://www.dutchie.co.uk/bike-dutch-chic-3-speed.html

I'd get a little basket on the front and ride round looking really cute. Lalala.

Most of all I love the Dutch lifestyle. It seems so laid back and pleasant. No, not because of cannabis being legal. You cheeky things. Every Dutch person I've met is so lovely to be around and extremely chilled. They're lovely. I wish I was one. I also love the Dutch football team. I supported them the last world cup over England. I have nothing against England I just love the Dutch team. Little did I know they would get to the final! It was extremely exciting to watch, even if they did lose. I also have a fantasy premier league team and at first it was called "The Flying Dutchmen" and had as many Dutch players as I could. The remarkable Van Persie, Van der Vaart and Kuyt. Since then I have changed my team but I do miss my Dutch team and I regret changing them :(

Lauren :)

Should the Littlewoods advert be banned?

The new uproar of those on "Mumsnet" and "The Wright Stuff" is the latest Christmas Littlewoods advert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGIN_SbjtYA

Personally upon first watch I thought nothing of it. I thought "Ahh, some sweet children singing a nice tune and thanking their mother." But now that I think about it maybe I agree with the crazy mums that are complaining about this.

• Firstly, there is talk of it ruining the idea of Santa Claus for young children. The advert has the children thanking their mothers for the gifts they received which is all well and good but most children that age are still wrapped up in the magic of Santa. I think this is wrong although I can't see many children watching this and actually thinking that in depth about it. Even when I did believe in Father Christmas back in the day I always remember thanking my parents for my gifts. I think I thought they were in on it together. I don't know. I don't remember much from when I was younger. 
• Secondly, the gifts on this advert all add up to £2000, encouraging this materialistic culture that consumes us and keeps us in this never ending debt cycle. The presents shown are all so expensive. A young child getting an Xbox for Christmas is £150 odd just for that. I know that my mum wouldn't have been able to afford something that expensive and we are quite a well off family. I feel sorry for the families who struggle to make ends meet and have their children asking for big gifts like these on their Christmas list. It's hard to refuse your darling child's dreams so families often take out a loan or fall into the red just to afford what Christmas has been made into these days. It shows the Grandad getting a Laptop too which is absurd. Never have I known someone to get their parents/grandparents an expensive laptop which will be totally lost upon (some of) them! It's just laughable to imagine me getting my grandparents a Laptop. I think it'd lie next to their mobile phones catching dust. They'd prefer a nice cookbook or some kitchen crockery anyday!
• I also think in the modern age we live in that the fact the advert doesn't mention a father is just old fashioned. There are plenty of single fathers around nowadays and this needs to be incorporated. There are more fathers who will often help the mother to buy the presents for Christmas which just seems to be ignored. I know it wouldn't fit with the tune of the song but they should have changed the song to be fair to both parents!

All in all I think the anti-Santa element to it is the least of the adverts worries. I can't see many little children watching this advert, they'd probably be watching "Cbeebies" or playing a game than taking interest in the meaning of this Advert. I think the pressure it puts on average families to buy extravagant gifts for their children as if it is the norm is the main issue here.

I'm still undecided as whether it should be banned. Maybe everyone is other thinking this?

L x

I should probably explain my URL...

Yeah so for a while now I have had this obsession with becoming Dutch. I want to be Dutch! Or Norwegian, I'm not picky ;) Sadly, I was born in the UK and this isn't possible (No offence to the UK, it is a great place to live).
I've been to Holland twice and intend to visit more often. I hope I am able to one day live there but only time can tell. On my first trip to Holland, some Dutch teenagers were chatting to me, telling me to say certain things. One boy told me to say "Ik ben een koekje" - which I did and instantaneously they all burst into laughter. It means "I am a cookie" in English which I don't think is that funny but I guess it was just hysterical to hear. Since then, that phrase has stuck with me and whenever I meet a Dutch person I say it. Pretty silly I know.

After a while I figured I needed to learn some more Dutch. I can't just go round saying "Ik ben een koekje" to everyone. So, I took to youtube and learnt some basic Dutch from Ericos, who is a lovely guy.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ericos - Check him out. He helped me to learn the very basics of the beautiful Dutch language for free! So thanks a lot <3

I hope to one day be fluent but for now I should probably focus on my studies and getting into University!
Hope that explains it and I hope that you now have the instant urge to visit Holland. It is a wonderful place.

L x

First things first...

Hi there to the thousands upon thousands of people wanting an insight into my mind.
Or rather hi there to that stranger from Japan who has just stumbled upon this by mistake.

I'm aware my blog will not be recognised but I am doing this for my own piece of mind. I often have hundreds of thoughts floating around my head and this is a way of making sense of it all. I look forward to looking back at this in the future seeing how much things have changed.

I'm just your ordinary 17 year old girl from the UK. I'm applying to university this year and think this is an opportune time to start a blog. I've been wanting to for so long but apprehensive about what people would think. But who cares, no one will read this anyway. :)

My blog I am guessing will consist of the average teenage day to day stresses along with hopefully so wise words about current affairs but probably just a load of rants. I am often very opinionated and have quite controversial views (some of the time)! I'm sure you will get used to me and get to know me as the blogging progresses.

Laurennnnn x